Carla Colombo, Pier Maria Battezzati, Andrea Crosignani, Alberto Morabito, Diana Costantini, Rita Padoan, Annamaria Giunta – 7 March 2007 – Incidence of liver disease (LD) associated with cystic fibrosis (CF) and its clinical characterization still is unsettled. We have assessed prospectively the incidence and risk factors of this complication, and its impact on the clinical course of CF. Between 1980 and 1990, we enrolled 177 CF patients without LD in a systematic clinical, laboratory, ultrasonography screening program of at least a 10‐year duration.

Jennifer K. King, Shiou‐Hwei Yeh, Ming‐Wei Lin, Chun‐Jen Liu, Ming‐Yang Lai, Jia‐Horng Kao, Ding‐Shinn Chen, Pei‐Jer Chen – 7 March 2007 – Interferon alfa (IEN‐α) therapy remains a mainstay of treatment in active hepatitis B. However, sustained remission rates remain relatively low, and the search for factors important for response to therapy continues. Our study aimed to identify the host single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that predict IFN response in hepatitis B patients.

Takeya Tsutsumi, Tetsuro Suzuki, Kyoji Moriya, Yoshizumi Shintani, Hajime Fujie, Hideyuki Miyoshi, Yoshiharu Matsuura, Kazuhiko Koike, Tatsuo Miyamura – 7 March 2007 – In human chronic hepatitis C, alcohol intake is a synergistic factor for the acceleration of hepatocarcinogenesis. Recently, we showed a significant increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) core‐transgenic mice fed ethanol‐containing diets.

Alberto Monescillo, Francisco Martínez‐Lagares, Luis Ruiz‐Del‐Arbol, Angel Sierra, Clemencia Guevara, Elena Jiménez, José Miguel Marrero, Enrique Buceta, Juan Sánchen, Ana Castellot, Mónica Peñate, Ana Cruz, Elena Peña – 7 March 2007 – Increased portal pressure during variceal bleeding may have an influence on the treatment failure rate, as well as on short‐ and long‐term survival.

7 March 2007

Benita L. McVicker, Dean J. Tuma, Jacy A. Kubik, Agnes M. Hindemith, Cheryl R. Baldwin, Carol A. Casey – 7 March 2007 – Apoptotic cell death is a well‐defined process that is controlled by intrinsic cellular mechanisms followed by the generation of apoptotic bodies and their subsequent rapid elimination through the action of phagocytic cells. Within the liver, the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP‐R) has been shown to be involved in the phagocytosis of apoptotic hepatocytes, as well as altered cellular endocytic events after ethanol administration.

Hazem Hallak, Giesla Moehren, Jei Tang, Mohamad Kaou, Mouhamad Addas, Jan B. Hoek, Raphael Rubin – 7 March 2007 – Insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) plays a critical role in the induction of cell cycle progression and survival in many cell types. However, there is minimal IGF‐I binding to hepatocytes, and a role for IGF‐I in hepatocyte signaling has not been elucidated. The dynamics of IGF‐I receptor (IGF‐IR) activation were examined in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. IGF‐I did not activate the IGF‐IR.

Mercedes Pérez‐Carreras, Pilar Del Hoyo, Miguel A. Martín, Juan C. Rubio, Ana Martín, Gregorio Castellano, Francisco Colina, Joaquín Arenas, José A. Solis‐Herruzo – 7 March 2007 – Mitochondrial dysfunction might play a central role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatits (NASH). The aims of this study were to evaluate whether free fatty acid (FFA) transport into the mitochondria or the activity of mitochondria respiratory chain (MRC) complexes are impaired in NASH.

Marta Burrel, Josep M. Llovet, Carmen Ayuso, Carmela Iglesias, Margarita Sala, Rosa Miquel, Teresa Caralt, Juan Ramon Ayuso, Manel Solé, Marcelo Sanchez, Concepció Brú, Jordi Bruix – 7 March 2007 – Helical computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used for staging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prior to curative treatments but underestimate tumor extension in 30% to 50% of cases when compared with pathologic explants. This study compares a new technology, MRI angiography (MRA), with triphasic helical CT in detection of HCC.

Bernhard Angermayr, Manfred Cejna, Franz Koenig, Franz Karnel, Franz Hackl, Alfred Gangl, Markus Peck‐Radosavljevic – 7 March 2007 – In patients with liver cirrhosis, implantation of a transjugular intrahepatic shunt (TIPS) leads to reduction of portal pressure, but not of mortality compared with other therapies. The high stenosis rates of conventional bare stents causes high reintervention rates and costs and may be correlated with poor survival. ePTFE‐covered stentgrafts provide much improved patency rates, but their impact on survival is unclear.